It doesn’t really matter what generation you grew up in: the 1960’s, the 1980’s the 2000’s. If you’re into pop culture, cartoons, science fiction and fantasy, you’re aware of all the greatest animated heroes in history: Speed Racer, Scooby Doo, Battle of the Planets/Gatchaman, Transformers, He-Man and G.I. Joe, among many others.
Today, we’re celebrating two of the all-time greats in Space Ghost and, perhaps a little more niche nut no less awesome, The Herculoids.
These legends, for the first time ever, are getting a proper comic book series crossover – and as a pop culture aficionado and lover of the comic book format, you need to be there for it!
Although both sets of characters first hit the CBS television channel on Saturday mornings during the 1960’s, their popularity has never waned. Perhaps it’s even grown.
Like many others, I learned to love them in the early 1980’s, when they were brought back to the morning weekend TV-watching ritual for kids across the North American continent.
I’d wake up on a Saturday morning, rub the sleep from my eyes, pour myself a bowl of Count Chocula cereal (if my parents had stocked the pantry with the sweet, empty-calorie, kid-favourite morning option), sifting through the box in order to add more “marshmallows” to my overflowing bowl, wolf it down with cold milk-turned-dye-coloured chocolate, then race downstairs, sliding on the shag run and underneath the coffee table, lying there in front of the boob tube, watching the latest adventures our heroes found themselves embroiled within for the morning hours.
Created by the legendary Alex Toth, Space Ghost was a deep-voiced, muscular, hooded hero with forearm power bands that emanated heat and freeze rays, magnetic and stun beams and episodic specialized lasers. He could also fly, teleport, turn invisible and become intangible by pushing buttons on his utility belt, surprising his enemies and winning the day alongside his sidekicks, Jan, Jace and space monkey, Blip!
The Herculoids were also created by the imaginative Toth, a sort of prehistoric Conan the Barbarian-like family led by humans Zandor, Tara and Dorno, who rode all kinds of Jurassic-era dinosaurs, each with their own strengths, while being joined by the weird extra-terrestrial shapeshifters, Gloop and Gleep. Together they’d face off against the machinations of space pirates and the primitive environment itself.
For a kid, what’s not to love? For an adult? It’s the same adoration!
Space Ghost vs. The Herculoids #1
Written by: David Pepose
Illustrated by: Jonathan Lau
Published by: Dynamite Entertainment
After a few years of telling stories in their own titular comic book series courtesy of publisher, Dynamite Entertainment, Space Ghost and The Herculoids finally get the cross-over treatment today in a new five-part, monthly miniseries perfectly titled: Space Ghost vs. The Herculoids.
Written and illustrated by David Pepose and Jonathan Lau, the longtime creative force behind the two seasons-plus of the Space Ghost comic book series, Space Ghost vs. The Herculoids sees the heroes face off against…each other!
At the start of the series, Space Ghost must defend the Galactic Federation against the cosmic gladiator, Zandor and his band of powerful beasts. But as any reader (or old cartoon viewer) might suspect, there are evil machinations afoot in the background – deadly threats from powerful villains like the Evil Collector, Mekkano the android and Krugar the Space Pirate.
It’s only a matter of time before we get what we’ve always waited for: Space Ghost and the Herculoids, teaming up against the growing threat! Right? Right?
Available in a plethora of sense-shattering covers by a number of top artists, Space Ghost vs. The Herculoids #1 is a wonderfully playful, action-packed and enthalling romp through the pop culture zeitgeist. It’s perfect reading for fans, both old and new!
Make like a hero and teleport yourself to your local comic book shop today and pick up Space Ghost vs. The Herculoids #1.
You can watch a short interview with writer, David Pepose, directly below where he talks about the new series and where he and artist Jonathan Lau plan to bring our favourite sci-fi and fantasy heroes.
